Tillers, Trabuco Hills, Mission Viejo and Tesoro post wins in Tustin Holiday Classic

Tustin High’s gymnasium is the site for the Tustin Classic beginning Thursday. (Photo courtesy Tustin basketball, For OC Sports Zone)

The 8th annual Tustin Classic, one of the top boys basketball tournaments in Orange County, tipped off on Thursday, Dec. 26 and OC Sports Zone is providing updates and coverage.

Sixteen teams, including nine from Orange County, are entered in the event. Tesoro, which was runner-up in the So Cal Elite Gary Raya Classic, comes in with a 10-2 record.

Tustin, coached by Ringo Bossenmeyer, is off to an 12-3 start and won its opener over Esperanza 53-42 in the first game of the day. Mission Viejo (12-2) and Trabuco Hills (9-4) are also in the tournament. Irvine is represented by Northwood, Portola and Woodbridge.

“There are 16 really good teams,” Bossenmeyer said. “It’s a solid tournament from top to bottom. We want to get some momentum going into league. Those are our last four games and then we open up with Cypress so we get the defending league champion on Jan. 7 so it’s all about trying to get ready for that one.”

The tournament follows a traditional bracket format.

Teams who win their openers advance to the championship bracket on the right and teams that lose move to consolation side on the left.

The tournament runs through Monday, Dec. 30.

Opening round match-ups on Dec. 26 (from top to bottom of the bracket):

Mission Viejo 64, Long Beach Jordan 37 (F) Please click here for a game story

Murrieta Valley 73, Santiago 57 (F)

Tesoro 77, California San Ramon 49 (F) (Please click here for a game story)

Long Beach Millikan 65, Northwood 55: Shandon Sharifi scored 20 points and made six 3-pointers for the Timberwolves. Amit Flint added 11 points. Robert Diaz III had 27 points to lead Millikan.

Northwood (3-11) had a solid first half and led 31-30. But in the second half Trent Harper had to sit out with foul trouble and Millikan took advantage.

Northwood was also missing several players because of either injuries or illness.

“It was a little too much to overcome,” said Northwood Coach Tim O’Brien. “We battled and we shot well and it was close until Trent picked up his fourth foul. He’s our only big, but it’s Christmas ball. We were shorthanded but our team competed well and we did a lot of nice things.”

Devon Huong had 10 points and Harper finished with eight.

Cajon 62, Woodbridge 42 (F): Nygle Williams scored 22 points and Steven Mimpiya seven points to lead the Warriors (1-12)

Squalicum (Wash) 69, Long Beach Wilson 67 (OT)

Tustin 53, Esperanza 42 (F): Bradley Burdick scored 14 points, Ryan Stading had 12 poins and Jason Naranjo 11 points to lead the Tillers.

Trabuco Hills 64, Portola 50 (F)

OC Sports Zone is proud to be partnering with the tournament this year as the go-to source for the event and will provide updated scores along with photos and game stories.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR FULL SCHEDULE ON FRIDAY, DEC. 27

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com